Please see below the Safeguarding requirements for affiliation. The FA has updated the requirements for Youth and Open-Age Football ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Youth teams must:

• All Youth team coaches/managers including assistants and medics must hold an in-date Safeguarding Children Course or Safeguarding Re-certification training as part of 23/24 affiliation process
• All Youth team coaches/managers including assistants and medics must have an in-date accepted FA DBS 23/24 affiliation process
• All committee members must have completed the Safeguarding for Committee members training
• Have a fully compliant Club Welfare Officer, in date FA accepted DBS, completed the Welfare Officer Course, Safeguarding Children course or Re-certification and Safeguarding for Committee members

Open-Age clubs must:

• Name a Welfare Officer (Open-Age Teams) as part of 23/24 affiliation process
• Name managers and coaches against all the teams registered with The FA
• Ensure FA DBS Checks are done for those working with under-18s
• Ensure those running the club and coaching complete a free Player Welfare resource to affiliate in 24/25 including the Welfare Officer

All Clubs with Open-Age Disability teams must:

• Name a Welfare Officer (Disability Team who has completed The FA’s free Safeguarding Adults Course as part of 23/24 affiliation process

If you would like any further support in regard to any of the above please feel free to contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer Veronique Nani via: Safeguarding@BedfordshireFA.com